Mobile armament



M. SITNEY.

MOBILE ARMAMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.24, 1917.

Patented Sept. 7, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

M. S|TNEY.- MOBiLE ARMAMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24, I917.

Patented Sept. 7, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

UNETED STATES PATENT oFFicE- MASSEY SITNEY, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

MOBILE ARMAMENL.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAssnY SITNEY, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident erence being had to the accompanying drawin s, forming a part thereof. 7 7

My invention relates to armored vehicles and it has for one object to provide a vehicle arranged and adapted to carry and offer protection for one man.

Another object is to provide a one man armored. Vehicle of the character above indicated, that shall be arranged to carry the man in a prone position and which nevertheless is arranged to permit a man to stand with the vehicle.resting with one end on his shoulders and yet offer him a protection against machine gun fire for example.

It has been my aim to provide a relatively light, small, preferably motor driven vehicle whichwill be adapted. to propel a man toward the enemy in a prone position closeto the ground and which shall at the same time afford him protection against machine gun fire and the like. The man may carry a rifle or small machine gun and a further object of my invention is to adapt a vehicle for this purpose and arrange it so as toprovide a gun support or rest'whenthe'man is standing as well as to oiferhim protection both in an upright and in a prone position..

In order that my invention may be thoroughly understood I will now proceed to describe the same in the following specification, and then point out the novel features thereof in appended claims.

' Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a plan view of an armored vehicle arranged and constructed in accord- 'ance with my invention and constituting an embodiment thereof.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section showing the same device in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the machine illustrating its use with the man in an upright position. I

F ig. L is a partial front elevation as elevation,

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedSept. *7, 1920.

Application filed March 24, 1917. Serial No. 157,068.

The device shown in the drawings comprises a body section 10 having a cover or lid 11 preferably crowned orformed like a roof to deflect bullets. The lid is made in two sections '11-" and .11 the two sections being hinged to the side frames 12 of the body, as shown in Fig. 5.

Attached to the body frame and extending backwardly therefrom-isa bracket 13 constituting a motor supportand forming bear ings for a wheel aXle 14: to'which wheels 15 are attached. A motor 16 is mounted on the bracket 13 and is operatively connected to the .wheel axle 14. i r

The vehicle is provided with a bottom plate 17 which is hinge connected at 18 to the body frame and is adapted to be latched in position against the frame by a bolt 19.

This bolt engages a keeper 20 when the bottom is shut and maybe readily released by a pull rod 21 mounted on one of the side frames 12 of the body. Mounted on the bracket plate 17 near the hinge 18 is a pivoted bracket 23 which supportsa steered wheel 22. The bracket is provided with a ried by thestraps 25. The rear end of the vehicle in this position rests upon the wheels 15 and it is apparent that the weight of the -motor is not borne by the rider but by the wheels.

In this position the-bottom plate 17 swings into a substantially upright position, a pair of links 26 being provided for limiting the angle of separation between the bottom plate and-the bodyof the vehicle.

At the front of the vehicle is a funnel-. shaped extension 27 having a small opening 28 throu h which a gun may be pointed for firing} he rider may fire the gun through the opening when in. a prone position, or when standing, as shown in Fig. 3. lVhen standing the front extension of the vehicle forms a gun rest since it is also hinge connected at 18 to the body of the vehicle. It

is held in place in either position to which it may be adjusted by links '29 pivotally connected at 30 to the extension and pivoted is such that the extension or the plate 17.

an be readily swung closed or open, and when closed occupies the correct'position relative to the u 'n-ight bottom plate 17.

The bottom plate is cut away at its lower end, if desired, as shown in Fig. l, providing an opening 33, to permit the rider to move his legs freely. I

While I consider a motor driven vehicle preferable, the vehicle may be propelled by pedals 35 mounted on a pedal shaft 36 as shown in Fig. 6.

The lid sections ll 'and ll are preferably held closed by springs so that the rider may swing them open quickly if he wishes to abandon the vehicle or get out for any cause.

The weight of the'machine is relativelyj slight and it will be understood that when. he has ridden close to the scene of operations he may stand up and walk or run with the vehicle resting on his shoulders as shown in Fig. 3, or he may turn the vehicle around quickly and drop down to the prone position in which position the lids close and the vehicle is in position to be operated.

It is thus evident that the vehicle is capable of a variety of uses to fulfil the reqnirements of a sudden attack against machine gun lire and for various other military operations and maneuvers.

The opening 33 in the bottom plate 17 forms a bifurcated support the parts of which may provide a considerable protection for the legs of the rider when he is standing.

' The shield section 27 if made in the form shown in the drawings, is preferably provided with a sight plate l0 pivotally mounted at 4:1 and having a springfi or other suitable means by which the rider may readily raise and lower the sight plate for the purpose of observing objects in ad- 'anr-e. Of course, when he is aiming the gun he will sight through the opening 28. lVhile l have shown a rifle designated 43, the ri. or may employ any suitable lire arm such as an automatic pistol or a small machine gun. v

lVhat I claim is:

1. An armored vehicle comprising an inclosed body having hinged lids and a bot tom adapted to be swung about the forward end into an upright position to constitute a support.

2. An armored vehicle comprising a box body having a bottom hinge connected at one end and adapted to swing to an upright position to offer protection to the rider in a standing position.

3. A vehicle comprising a frame substantially parallel to the surface on which the vehicle is operated and adapted to carry the The arrangement of parts rider in a prone position, and means forming a part of the frame for holding the vehicle in a substantially upright position, to constitute a protection for the rider when standing.

4. A vehicle comprising a low-lying closed vehicle adapted to carry a rider in a prone position andhaving a gun rest and shield hinged to the vehicle and arranged to occupy a substantially horizontal position when the rider stands and supports one end of the vehicle.

5. A mobile armor comprising a casing having a hinged lid on the top and a hinged bottom plate adapted to swing away from the casing to support it in an upright position.

6. A mobile armor comprising a casing adapted to support a man in a prone position and having a hinged bottom plate adapted to swing away from the casing and support it in an upright position.

7. A mobile armor comprising a casing having a shield section pivotally attached at one end and having an opening for a gun, and an adjustable bracket for supporting the shield section whereby said casing is adapted to be mounted either in a substantially horizontal or an upright position while the shield section is maintained in a substantially horizontal position.

8. A vehicle comprising a casing adapted to receive a man in a prone position, driving wheels at the rear, means for propelling the vehicle, and shoulder straps adapted to support the front end of the vehicle when the rider assumes an upright position.

9. A motor vehicle comprising a casing adapted to receive a man in a prone position, driving wheels at the rear, means for propelling the vehicle, shoulder straps adapted to support the front end ofthe vehicle when the rider assumes an upright position, and a hinged member for supporting the vehicle independently of the rider.

10. A motor vehicle comprising a casing adapted to receive a man in a prone position, driving wheels the rear, means for propelling the vehicle, shoulder straps adapted to support the front end of the vehicle when the rider assumes an upright position, and

a shield section at one end having an opening for a gun, and arranged to be supported in a substantially horizontal position when the casing is either in a substantially horizontal or upright position.

11. A vehicle comprising a casing adapted to receive a man in a prone position, driving wheels at the rear, means for propelling the vehicle, shoulder straps adapted to support the front end of the vehicle when the rider assumes an upright position, and a gun rest and shield at the front.

'12. 'A'vehicle comprising a casing adapted to receive a man in a prone position, driving tion comprising a shield having means at one end for attachment to the shoulders of a man, and Wheels near the opposite end for supporting it on the ground to reduce the Weight borne by the man when in an upright position.

15. A mobile armor in the form of a vehicle adapted to carry a man in a prone position comprising a shield having shoulder straps for removably attaching the shield at one end to the shoulders of a man and having Wheels near the opposite end for supporting it on the ground and reducing the Weight borne by the man When in an upright position..

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 16 day of March, 1917.

MASSEY SITNEY. 

